CHECKING out on your own will soon be no longer an option for some Walmart shoppers and is a mystery for other stores.
Walmart decided to remove self-checkout from its Supercenter store in Shrewsbury, Missouri, 9.3 miles west of St. Louis, and they will be completely gone in about two weeks.
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Cashiers will be replacing the self-checkouts to better the shopping experience for customers.
Walmart said the decision to remove the self-checkouts came after considering multiple factors.
“The decision was based on several factors, including feedback from associates and customers, shopping patterns, and business needs in this area,” Brian Little, the Global Communications Director for Walmart Corporate Affairs said, NBC affiliate KSDK reported.
“We believe the change will improve the in-store shopping experience and give our associates the chance to provide more personalized and efficient service.”
People who shop at the Shrewsbury Walmart responded to a Facebook post made by local radio station, HOT 104.1, about the self-checkout removal.
There was mostly a positive response to seeing the self-checkouts go.
One person said using self-checkout made her feel like she was an employee of Walmart.
“Thank God tired of shopping for my groceries having to check them out and then go home to put them up I felt like I worked for Walmart,” another said.
Another person noted how they dislike self-checkout in general.
They said, “Yes love it hated self check out.”
SELF-CHECKOUT ACROSS ALL STORES
The Shrewsbury Walmart is not the only store that will be saying goodbye to its self-checkout.
Walmart also got rid of self-checkout at two stores in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in September 2023.
The retailer said the removal was also to improve how shoppers experience the store.
However, Walmart said at the time it does not have any plans to take self-checkouts out of its 4,700 stores nationwide, Business Insider reported.
Walmart declined to comment on if there would be any redesigns of self-checkouts coming in the future.
Latest self-checkout changes
Retailers are evolving their self-checkout strategy in an effort to speed up checkout times and reduce theft.
Walmart shoppers were shocked when self-checkout lanes at various locations were made available only for Walmart+ members.
Other customers reported that self-checkout was closed during specific hours, and more cashiers were offered instead.
While shoppers feared that shoplifting fueled the updates, a Walmart spokesperson revealed that store managers are simply experimenting with ways to improve checkout performance.
One bizarre experiment included an RFID-powered self-checkout kiosk that would stop the fiercely contested receipt checks.
However, that test run has been phased out.
At Target, items are being limited at self-checkout.
Last fall, the brand surveyed new express self-checkout lanes across 200 stores with 10 items or less for more convenience.
As of March 2024, this policy has been expanded across 2,000 stores in the US.
Additionally, in early April, Walmart announced a location in Cleveland, Ohio would be moving to only cashiers.
A spokesperson said the self-checkout removal for the Cleveland store was due to almost identical reasons as the Shrewsbury and Albuquerque locations.
“Customer and associate feedback, shopping patterns and business needs of the market,” Charles Crowson, a Walmart spokesperson said, FOX affiliate WJW in Cleveland reported.
Shoppers of this location were also happy to no longer have to check themselves out.
The comments were made on a post from WJW in Cleveland on a Facebook post.
“As they should!” one shopper said.
Another shopper said, “Go figure.”
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